Key Votes
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About the Selection and Descriptions of Key Votes
Vote Smart provides easy access to congressional and state voting records and maintains a collection of key votes grouped by issue. Vote Smart uses the following criteria to select key votes:
- The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
- The vote should be clear for any person to understand
- The vote has received media attention
- The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
- Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added
Vote Smart provides a summary of the version of the bill text associated with each selected key vote. Our summaries are written by Vote Smart's staff and interns, who adhere to our strict policies and procedures in order to guarantee absolute impartiality and accuracy. They do not necessarily reflect the content of the final version of the bill, but rather the version voted on in that stage. While many procedural votes take place before a full chamber vote, our voting stages reflect the final reading of each chamber vote. Each key vote selection is reviewed by the project's community of advisors, who are political scientists and journalists from all fifty states.
For more information about the legislative process, see here.
results per page:
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 30, 2024 | PA | HB 416 | Prohibits Remote Stalking | Bill Passed - House (199 - 1) |
| April 15, 2024 | PA | HB 1573 | Establishes the Historic and Older Building Redevelopment Assistance Grant Program | Bill Passed - House (102 - 99) |
| March 27, 2024 | PA | HB 777 | Prohibits the Sale of Ghost Guns and Establishes Penalties | Bill Passed - House (104 - 97) |
| March 27, 2024 | PA | HB 777 | Prohibits the Sale of Ghost Guns and Establishes Penalties | Bill Passed - House (104 - 97) |
| Dec. 13, 2023 | PA | HB 863 | Reduces Physical Fitness Standards for Police Training | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (118 - 85) |
| Dec. 13, 2023 | PA | SB 683 | Requires Fentanyl and Xylazine Screening in Many Diagnostic Urine Tests | Bill Passed - House (166 - 37) |
| Dec. 13, 2023 | PA | SB 683 | Requires Fentanyl and Xylazine Screening in Many Diagnostic Urine Tests | Bill Passed - House (166 - 37) |
| July 7, 2023 | PA | HB 1394 | Prohibits Hair Discrimination | Bill Passed - House (182 - 21) |
| June 26, 2023 | PA | HB 1067 | Authorizes Immigrant Teachers with Valid License Certification and Experience | Bill Passed - House (110 - 93) |
| June 14, 2023 | PA | HB 1305 | Establishes Resources for Mental Health Behavioral Crisis Intervention | Bill Passed - House (113 - 90) |
| May 22, 2023 | PA | HB 714 | Requires Background Checks for All Firearms | Bill Passed - House (109 - 92) |
| May 22, 2023 | PA | HB 1018 | Authorizes Extreme Risk Protection Orders | Bill Passed - House (102 - 99) |
| May 22, 2023 | PA | HB 1018 | Authorizes Extreme Risk Protection Orders | Bill Passed - House (102 - 99) |
| May 22, 2023 | PA | HB 714 | Requires Background Checks for All Firearms | Bill Passed - House (109 - 92) |
| Feb. 24, 2023 | PA | HB 2 | Amends State Law to Temporarily Open the 2-Year Window for Survivors to File Civil Lawsuits | Bill Passed - House (134 - 67) |
| Nov. 15, 2022 | PA | HB 1546 | Prohibits "Endangerment" of Public Safety Officials | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (158 - 39) |
| Sept. 19, 2022 | PA | HB 146 | Prohibits Premature Release of an Individual who has Committed a Violent Offense while Imprisoned | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (133 - 69) |
| July 1, 2022 | PA | SB 1183 | Limits Use of Off-Road Vehicles; Authorizes Forfeiture Thereof | Bill Passed - House (135 - 65) |
| June 30, 2022 | PA | SB 814 | Increases Penalties For Fleeing the Police on Foot | Bill Passed - House (127 - 73) |
| June 14, 2022 | PA | HB 2524 | Limits Incarcerated Individuals' Ability to Request Public Records to Only Information About Themselves | Bill Passed - House (112 - 88) |
| June 8, 2022 | PA | HB 2125 | Exempts and Removes References of Homosexuality from State Criminal Codes | Bill Passed - House (198 - 0) |
| April 27, 2022 | PA | HB 2275 | Establishes Philadelphia Gun Violence Task Force | Bill Passed - House (151 - 49) |
| April 27, 2022 | PA | HB 2275 | Establishes Philadelphia Gun Violence Task Force | Bill Passed - House (151 - 49) |
| April 26, 2022 | PA | HB 2525 | Amends Criminal Codes Related to Victim Requests for Criminal History Dissemination | Bill Passed - House (160 - 43) |
| April 12, 2022 | PA | HB 972 | Prohibits Transgender Girls from Playing on Female Sports Teams | Bill Passed - House (115 - 84) |
| Nov. 16, 2021 | PA | SB 565 | Expands Concealed Carry Laws | Bill Passed - House (107 - 92) |
| Oct. 4, 2021 | PA | HB 1893 | Expands Access to COVID-19 Data in Order to be Available to the Public | Bill Passed - House (113 - 87) |
| June 23, 2021 | PA | SB 618 | Prohibits Vaccine Passports and Limits Powers of the Secretary of Health | Bill Passed - House (112 - 89) |
| June 8, 2021 | PA | HB 979 | Authorizes Gun Owners and Organizations to Challenge Local Guns Laws that are Stricter than State Law | Bill Passed - House (124 - 79) |
| April 7, 2021 | PA | HB 951 | Expands the Window for Underage Victims to Sue for Sexual Abuse | Bill Passed - House (149 - 52) |
| April 7, 2021 | PA | HB 184 | Increases Penalties for Assisted Suicide | Bill Passed - House (162 - 39) |
| March 16, 2021 | PA | HB 103 | Increases the Penalty for Spitting on a Police Officer to a First Degree Misdemeanor | Bill Passed - House (146 - 56) |
| Jan. 27, 2021 | PA | HB 14 | Extends the Statute of Limitations for Childhood Sexual Abuse. | Bill Passed - House (187 - 15) |
| Sept. 15, 2020 | PA | HB 2530 | Prohibits Governor from Disallowing Gatherings at Places of Worship | Bill Passed - House (149 - 53) |
| Sept. 15, 2020 | PA | HB 2530 | Prohibits Governor from Disallowing Gatherings at Places of Worship | Bill Passed - House (149 - 53) |
| Sept. 2, 2020 | PA | HB 2787 | Authorizes Individual School Districts to Make Decisions Surrounding Activities and COVID-19 | Bill Passed - House (155 - 47) |
| July 7, 2020 | PA | HB 256 | Amends State Law to make Assaulting a Correctional Officer a Felony | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (173 - 28) |
| June 24, 2020 | PA | HB 1747 | Limits the Governors Ability to Restrict Firearm Access During a Disaster Emergency | Bill Passed - House (127 - 74) |
| June 24, 2020 | PA | HB 1841 | Requires Background Checks for Police Officers | Bill Passed - House (201 - 0) |
| June 24, 2020 | PA | HB 1841 | Requires Background Checks for Police Officers | Bill Passed - House (201 - 0) |
| May 20, 2020 | PA | HB 2440 | Classifies Shooting Ranges, Sportsman Clubs, Hunting Facilities, and Firearm Businesses as "Life-Sustaining" | Bill Passed - House (124 - 78) |
| May 20, 2020 | PA | HB 2440 | Classifies Shooting Ranges, Sportsman Clubs, Hunting Facilities, and Firearm Businesses as "Life-Sustaining" | Bill Passed - House (124 - 78) |
| Dec. 18, 2019 | PA | HB 1477 | Authorizes Professional Licenses for Ex-Convicts | Bill Passed - House (193 - 4) |
| Dec. 17, 2019 | PA | SB 501 | Amends Parole, Probation, and Criminal Sentencing Guidelines | Bill Passed - House (167 - 29) |
| Nov. 19, 2019 | PA | HB 49 | Authorizes School Police to Make Arrests | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (161 - 37) |
| Nov. 18, 2019 | PA | HB 1890 | Requires a Funeral for, or the Cremation of, Abortion Remains | Bill Passed - House (123 - 76) |
| Oct. 30, 2019 | PA | SB 147 | Establishes Hunting Regulations on Sundays | Bill Passed - House (144 - 54) |
| Oct. 30, 2019 | PA | SB 147 | Establishes Hunting Regulations on Sundays | Bill Passed - House (144 - 54) |
| June 27, 2019 | PA | SB 621 | Authorizes Schools to Arm Security Guards | Bill Passed - House (116 - 83) |
| May 14, 2019 | PA | HB 321 | Prohibits Abortions Based on a Diagnosis of Down Syndrome | Bill Passed - House (117 - 76) |
| May 6, 2019 | PA | HB 1058 | Prohibits Abortions Based Solely on a Diagnosis of Down Syndrome | Bill Passed - House (116 - 76) |
| Sept. 26, 2018 | PA | HB 2060 | Requires Surrender of Firearms in Protection Abuse Situations | Bill Passed - House (131 - 62) |
| Sept. 26, 2018 | PA | HB 2060 | Requires Surrender of Firearms in Protection Abuse Situations | Bill Passed - House (131 - 62) |
| Sept. 25, 2018 | PA | SB 261 | Increases the Statute of Limitations for Victims of Sexual Abuse | Bill Passed - House (173 - 21) |
| April 11, 2018 | PA | HB 1419 | Authorizes Limited Access to Certain Criminal Records | Bill Passed - House (188 - 2) |
| June 13, 2017 | PA | HB 864 | Amends Gaming and Gambling Laws | Bill Passed - House (136 - 56) |
| June 13, 2017 | PA | HB 864 | Amends Gaming and Gambling Laws | Bill Passed - House (136 - 56) |
| April 26, 2017 | PA | HB 671 | Authorizes Lawsuits Against Local Governments with Gun Ordinances | Bill Passed - House (134 - 53) |
| April 5, 2017 | PA | HB 741 | Reinstates Mandatory Minimum Sentences | Bill Passed - House (122 - 67) |
| April 5, 2017 | PA | HB 741 | Reinstates Mandatory Minimum Sentences | Bill Passed - House (122 - 67) |
| April 4, 2017 | PA | HB 271 | Establishes Internet Gambling Regulations | Bill Passed - House (142 - 56) |
| Oct. 20, 2014 | PA | HB 80 | Authorizes Civil Action against Local Firearm Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (138 - 56) |
| Oct. 6, 2014 | PA | HB 1243 | Authorizes Civil Action against Local Firearm Laws | Bill Passed - House (143 - 54) |
| Oct. 17, 2012 | PA | SB 941 | Increases Penalties for Public Intoxication | Bill Passed - House (104 - 87) |
| June 13, 2012 | PA | HB 2400 | Expands Wiretapping Authority | Bill Passed - House (145 - 52) |
| March 14, 2012 | PA | HB 934 | Amends Voter Identification Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (104 - 88) |
| Nov. 15, 2011 | PA | HB 439 | Hiring Undocumented Workers | Bill Passed - House (122 - 74) |
| June 30, 2011 | PA | HB 960 | Public Assistance Program Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (130 - 66) |
| June 23, 2011 | PA | HB 934 | Amends Voter Identification Laws | Bill Passed - House (108 - 88) |
| March 4, 2011 | PA | HB 934 | Amends Voter Identification Laws | |
| Feb. 15, 2011 | PA | HB 262 | New Gaming Unit in the Office of Attorney General | Bill Passed - House (126 - 72) |
| Nov. 15, 2010 | PA | HB 1926 | Amending Self-Protection Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (161 - 35) |
| Nov. 15, 2010 | PA | HB 1926 | Amending Self-Protection Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (161 - 35) |
| Oct. 5, 2010 | PA | HB 40 | Self Defense Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (159 - 38) |
| Oct. 5, 2010 | PA | HB 40 | Self Defense Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (159 - 38) |
| July 1, 2010 | PA | HB 67 | Driving Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (71 - 126) |
| June 30, 2010 | PA | HB 2572 | Establishing the Special Juvenile Victim Compensation Fund | Bill Passed - House (125 - 76) |
| June 29, 2010 | PA | HB 2189 | Defining the Offense of Sexting | Bill Passed - House (163 - 36) |
| June 8, 2010 | PA | HB 1502 | Verification of Employee Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (188 - 6) |
| Jan. 6, 2010 | PA | SB 711 | Legalizing Table Games | Conference Report Adopted - House (103 - 89) |
| Dec. 15, 2009 | PA | SB 711 | Legalizing Table Games | Bill Passed - House (103 - 92) |
| Oct. 7, 2009 | PA | HB 1531 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (102 - 96) |
| Oct. 2, 2009 | PA | HB 1531 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (103 - 98) |
| Aug. 5, 2009 | PA | HB 1663 | Appropriations from State Gaming Fund | Bill Passed - House (110 - 87) |
| July 14, 2009 | PA | HB 264 | Expungement of Criminal Records and Juvenile Records | Bill Passed - House (104 - 91) |
| June 29, 2009 | PA | HB 746 | Children's Health Care Insurance | Bill Passed - House (106 - 94) |
| April 22, 2009 | PA | A771 | Requiring Hands Free Devices for Cell Phones in Cars | Amendment Rejected - House (95 - 100) |
| June 25, 2008 | PA | A 7738 | Real ID Biometric Data | Bill Failed - House (92 - 108) |
| June 25, 2008 | PA | A 7738 | Real ID Biometric Data | Bill Failed - House (92 - 108) |
| June 4, 2008 | PA | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - House (163 - 38) |
| May 13, 2008 | PA | SB 1278 | Child Support Fee | Bill Passed - House (116 - 84) |
| April 1, 2008 | PA | A 6178 to HB 1845 | Reporting Missing Firearms | Amendment Rejected - House (75 - 128) |
| July 16, 2007 | PA | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (141 - 62) |
| June 28, 2007 | PA | HB 1631 | Funding for Local County Projects | Bill Passed - House (121 - 77) |
| June 28, 2006 | PA | A7999 to HB 1959 | English as Official Language | Amendment Adopted - House (122 - 70) |
| June 12, 2006 | PA | HB 698 | Mental Retardation Consideration in Murder Cases | Bill Passed - House (169 - 28) |
| June 6, 2006 | PA | HB 2381 | Marriage Definition Constitutional Amendment | Joint Resolution Passed - House (136 - 61) |
| June 6, 2006 | PA | HB 2381 | Marriage Definition Constitutional Amendment | Joint Resolution Passed - House (136 - 61) |
| June 6, 2006 | PA | HB 2381 | Marriage Definition Constitutional Amendment | Joint Resolution Passed - House (136 - 61) |